Ateneo rising star Maddie Madayag is set to undergo surgery on her injured right knee after the Lenten break. Dante Peralta

ATENEO middle blocker Amy Ahomiro believes sophomore Maddie Madayag's 'heart strong' mantra and will help her get though the ACL injury that ruled her out for the rest of the UAAP women's volleyball season.

The graduating Lady Eagle is confident the emerging middle blocker’s major injury on her right knee, which she suffered during a team practice more than a week ago, is no more than a bump on the road.

Madayag is set to have an operation after the Holy Week but will miss the remainder of the UAAP Season 78 women’s volleyball tournament, where Ateneo has already secured a Final Four spot along with La Salle.

“We lost a great player but Maddie, she’s young and she’s strong she’s gonna come back (stronger),” said Ahomiro. “That’s sports, ‘di ba? People get injured but we’re able to have a good game without her. We super miss her out there on the court and off the court but she’s gonna come back next year even stronger.”

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The New Zealand national certainly knows what she is talking about. Ahomiro has overcome two ACL injuries both on her left knee in her first two seasons at Ateneo.

Ahomiro is certain it will take more than an ACL injury to take down her 18-year old teammate from Davao.

“I had two ACLs, in my first and second year,” she recalled. “So it’s really hard to come back from a lot of therapy but Maddie’s super strong and her mind is strong, her body’s strong so she’s gonna come back strong.”

“I just told her to be positive. God has a plan for everything naman and everything will work out (for the best), hopefully in the end,” she added. “Just stay positive. It’s hard when you get down on yourself and everything. She’s good naman, she has a strong heart, she’ll be okay.”

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Meanwhile, La Salle star Ara Galang, who also suffered injuries to her ACL and MCL as wel as a big bone bruise on her left knee, also encouraged Madayag to stay strong.

“Siguro, first kailangang maging matatag lang emotionally (and) mentally and after a while kapag talagang na-accept mo na sa sarili mo, you must work on it physically naman,” she said.